Gasaway Service Station has become the first in the Virgin Islands to reduce fuel prices in response to Senator Kurt Vialet’s public call for compassion and community action during the ongoing federal government shutdown and the suspension of SNAP benefits.
Located just before the Christiansted Bypass heading east, Gasaway lowered its regular gas price from $3.99 to $3.79 per gallon and also reduced Premium from $4.19 to $4.09. The move, directly tied to the senator’s appeal, has been welcomed by motorists and could mark the start of a wider trend among local gas stations.
In recent days, GMAX and Budget Gas have also offered discounts, signaling what may become a broader territory-wide response to Vialet’s request for price relief aimed at helping families cope with mounting financial strain.
Reacting to the developments Thursday morning, Senator Vialet said he was encouraged by what he described as a positive and meaningful start. “Very happy with the response. Very, very elated with the response,” he said. “I know that lowering prices would allow people to have a bit more disposable income, and the cost of living is just way too high in St. Croix. So my push is really to get gas stations, supermarkets, all that are entities, to offer the best price possible, and not the highest price that people are willing to pay, but to offer the best price possible so that people will be able to stretch their income and allow stuff to become more affordable.”
The senator added that his advocacy was driven by a belief that businesses must respond to changing market conditions in a way that benefits consumers. “I’m really happy with the gas, because under mainland gas is $2.80-something cents — $2.77, I’ve seen it to $2.66 in the Carolinas,” Vialet said. “So set the prices down. We got to make sure that in the Virgin Islands, we not only increase when the circumstances force us to increase, or the price of oil or the price of commodities increase, but we also have that philosophy that when it goes down, we are ultimately to pass on the savings to the consumers and not keep it at one fixed price.”
Vialet first issued his call to action on October 30, 2025, urging gas station owners across the territory to temporarily lower fuel prices to help families “struggling under the weight of the high cost of living, the ongoing federal government shutdown, and the suspension of SNAP benefits.”
According to the V.I. Department of Human Services, approximately 10,603 households in the territory rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to maintain food security. With those benefits now paused, many Virgin Islanders are finding it difficult to manage daily expenses, including transportation costs.
“During this challenging time, every act of compassion matters,” Vialet said. “We must each look for ways to lighten the load on our people. Lowering gas prices even temporarily would provide meaningful relief to families already facing uncertainty about how to put food on the table.”
Citing recent rack data covering October 28 through November 3, 2025, Vialet noted that base fuel prices stand at $2.52 per gallon for Unleaded 87, $2.70 for Unleaded 91, and $2.86 for Ultra-Low Sulfur Diesel. He said those prices provide enough flexibility for gas station operators to adjust retail prices “in a way that benefits residents without significantly affecting their business operations.”
While Vialet acknowledged that the Government of the Virgin Islands has indicated it could use local reserves to sustain SNAP payments into early 2026, he warned that such a measure “should not be seen as a long-term solution.”
“We can’t wait on federal decisions to act locally,” Vialet said. “Now is the time for businesses to show leadership and solidarity with the people they serve.”
The Majority Leader also praised community-minded businesses across the territory and urged residents to support local supermarkets, restaurants, and small businesses participating in food drives and other initiatives aimed at helping families most affected by the federal shutdown. “When the people come first, everyone wins,” he said.
Gasaway’s decision to lower both regular and premium prices has been seen as a meaningful step toward easing the financial strain many Virgin Islanders face. With other stations already offering discounts, the move could set off a broader trend of localized relief at the pump — a reflection of how community action and leadership can provide immediate, tangible support in times of national uncertainty.
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